Stained Glass of St Mary Church Shelton Norfolk
St Mary’s church has been described as one of the best examples of a church built in the Perpendicular style in Norfolk. Building had already started prior to the death of Sir Ralph Shelton in 1497, who ordered in his will that it should be finished “as it was begun”. Much of the original glazing survives, although as has happened in so many churches, most of it has been subject to rearrangement. There is also some speculation that some of the glass panels were inserted from the private chapel at the Hall when this building was destroyed whilst others may be foreign panels inserted at a later date. The early 16th century glass is mainly secular with many small donor figures. There are also many shields, representing the Shelton family connection and a repeated use of the Shelton rebus i.e a shell on a tun, or barrel. The most important glass is now found in the three east windows.
North Aisle West Window Shelton St Mary
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There is little glass of any interest in this window
North Aisle Window 4 Shelton St Mary
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There is little glass of obvious interest in this window
North Aisle Window 3 Shelton St Mary
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There are only fragments of medieval glass in this window
North Aisle Window 2 Shelton St Mary
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There are only fragments of medieval glass in this window
North Aisle Window 1 Shelton St Mary
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There are only fragments of medieval glass in this window
North Aisle East Window Shelton St Mary
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The tracery lights and the smaller figures consist of medieval glass including representations of angels and the Virgin Mary. The main panels depict a large female figure and a fragmentary resurrection scene. They are examples of early 16th century English glass painting which has been strongly influenced by North European styles.
East Window Shelton St Mary
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This large window contains an interesting collection of glass. In the tracery are six medieval angels ; three playing instruments, one carrying a book and two holding shields.
The two kneeling figures in the upper panel are sixteenth century representations of Sir Ralph Shelton and his wife. The lower portion of the window depicts the Annunciation, members of the Shelton family together with various family coats of arms. In particular note the Shelton coat of Arms which is a shield of blue with a cross of gold.
The large figure of the Virgin Mary (upper tier) and the panel depicting Kings Edmund and Henry VI (lower tier) were installed in the 19th century the latter being made by John Dixon in 1813.South Aisle East Window Shelton St Mary
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David King considers the painting of the two donor figures in this window to be highest quality in the church. They depict Sir John Shelton, recognised by the family coat of arms i.e shield of blue with a cross of gold, and his wife Anne Boleyn (a relative of the famous Anne!) whose shield depicts a boar’s head. The style is Germanic leading to the possibility that they are in fact foreign panels imported at a later stage. This supposition is supported by the fact that the two shields of arms appear to be insertions of earlier glass.
Note in particular the Shelton rebus at the base of the window i.e a shell on a tun.
South Aisle Window 1 Shelton St Mary
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There are only fragments of medieval glass in this window
South Aisle Window 2 Shelton St Mary
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There are only fragments of medieval glass in this window
South Aisle Window 3 Shelton St Mary
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There is little of interest in this window
South Aisle West Window Shelton St Mary
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There is little of interest in this window